“N-No. She didn’t say anything. She just…” Maxi trailed off, unsure if she should tell him about the princess’s invitation to live in the capital.
Riftan turned to look at her quizzically. “She just what?”
“She said that…there had been a breach in her barrier…which is how that monster managed to wreak havoc on the camp yesterday. I-It seems that she feels responsible for the situation. She blames herself for putting me in danger…so she apologized.”
“I see.”
An awkward silence fell over the room once more. Uneasy, Maxi studied her husband’s face. She did not know howshe was supposed to act when he was so obviously angry with her. Whenever her father had been in a foul mood, she had tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. Her words would only stoke his anger, so she quickly learned not to speak.
Riftan’s mood, however, only seemed to worsen the longer she kept silent.
His face was grim as he went back to staring into the flames. Finally, he spoke in a low voice. “Maxi, what happened yesterday can never happen again. Do you understand?”
She flinched at his calm tone. Although he had not been explicit, she knew exactly what he meant. Riftan poked at the fire, then slowly turned his head to look at her, his gaze intense.
“I know you were trying to do your duty as my wife, but Anatol is different from Croyso. Countless monsters dwell in these lands, and it’s impossible to know where or when they might strike. You heard about the lives that were lost, yes?”
Maxi nodded stiffly. For a brief moment, hesitation lurked in Riftan’s eyes, but then he shook his head and whispered, “It could have been you.”
A knot formed in Maxi’s stomach, and she hunched her shoulders, shrinking in on herself. Were it not for Ulyseon’s quick actions, she could have been gravely injured—killed, even. Riftan was right, and all she could do was hang her head in shame.
His voice grew harsher. “You don’t even know what you’re doing. The fact that you used your magic until you were out of mana is proof enough. If I had known you would be soreckless, I would never have allowed you to study it.”
“I-It was only because I was inexperienced. I will be…more c-careful next time.”
“There will be no next time.” His voice was as cold as ice.
Maxi’s eyes welled with disappointment. “B-But you were the one who said…I could do as I wished.”
Riftan stalked over to the bed. “Not when it compromises your safety! You are my wife. It is my duty to keep you safe. I cannot stand the thought of you in danger, nor can I bear to see you in pain. What happened yesterday can never happen again.”
“Then…what shall I do? What shall I do…wh-while you are fighting battles and enduring all kinds of hardships?”
“You don’t have to do anything.” His broad chest heaving, Riftan cupped Maxi’s face in his hands. “Have I not told you countless times that I have no expectations of you? You’ve completely transformed this castle, and you’re already managing the household. That is more than enough.”
Maxi wanted to argue, but she did not know what to say. At a loss for words, her lips quivered pitifully. Everything she had done so far had been to prove she was useful to him. She had worked so hard to be someone he could rely on. Yet Riftan did not require her help in the least. Unable to accept this, Maxi pressed her lips shut.
Riftan’s stern facade crumbled. “I’m begging you…. Don’t make me worry.”
Tears welled up in Maxi’s eyes. How could she argue against such a plea?
Unable to disagree with the man who was beside himself with concern for her, Maxi nodded weakly. Riftan pulled her into a tight embrace, and she rested her head on his shoulder.She mumbled in a choked voice, “I’m sorry.”
His hot breath grazed her neck as he sighed. He drew her tightly against his chest, and Maxi slowly closed her eyes. She could not understand why his strong arms, which had always put her at ease before, now felt so confining.
Chapter Fourteen
Maxi was practically confinedto her chambers until she was fully recovered. Riftan’s concern was such that the maids were made to follow her everywhere—even to the privy chambers.
Despite the fact that she had fully replenished her mana and her dizziness had subsided, Riftan’s anxiety remained. Maxi was cooped up in her chambers, unable to attend to their guests. She kept herself busy by training the kittens to hunt mice.
“Ron i-is the best at it,” she mumbled as she halfheartedly swung the mouse-shaped doll Ludis had sewn for the cats.
The tabby in question had grown heavier. He waved his front paws and snatched the doll.
Roy, on the other hand, was content to purr adorably in Maxi’s lap, a display of friendliness uncharacteristic of a cat. Laura—the white, haughty ice queen—remained aloof. She was grooming her paws at a distance as if such silly antics were beneath her. From Maxi’s observations thus far, Laura was a fussy cat that showed no interest in anyone besidesRiftan. Even though Maxi had made consistent efforts to attract her attention, the kitten never spared her a glance.
“Ron will be great at catching mice,” observed Ludis. “Not only is he the biggest of the three, he’s also curious and aggressive. Roy is too meek, while Laura refuses to do anything that could dirty her white fur. The cook said they should be starved so they will learn to hunt out of necessity.”
